An Early Start

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 20th November 2025

Characters: Saibra, I'serin
Description: Saibra and I'serin attend Galgaith's Hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Sybana, T'lonas, M'thos, Lemhask, Yvase, L'val

Saibra

I'serin

Notes:
******

“Our guests will be soaked with this weather,” I’serin commented to Saibra as he met her in her office the morning that Galgaith’s clutch deemed it time to emerge into the world. He was dressed in a brown tunic with bronze embellishment and black pants.

Saibra was wearing an understated, simple green dress, its hemline stitched with tiny, golden thread. “It’s either rain or snow here at Dragonsfall. They should come to expect it.” She grabbed her cloak to protect her from the rain.

“You know how Holders can be,” he replied as he hefted his own cloak to shield. He shot her a boyish grin as the two of them made their quick way across the Weyr to the Hatching Grounds, where dragons were flying in round after round of guests. “I do hope that Galgaith is not overwhelmed by the crowd,” he said as they went for their seats on the first tier.

“I’m certain it’s the _crowd_ that will be overwhelmed by Galgaith,” Saibra replied, nodding to a few familiar faces as she took her seat beside the Weyrleader. “I know it’s a small clutch, but hopefully all the dragonets will be healthy. I think Sybana could probably benefit from nothing else being… unusual.”

“I know that is more common for a maiden flight to be short and a brown sire but I do wonder if Sybana took that harder than most,” I’serin remarked as he looked at the golden hulk of Galgaith. Would she ever grow sleek and proportioned?

}: Galgaith will prosper, :{ Aluneth said sharply with that indefatigable draconic belief that sires had for their progeny. I’serin discarded the rest of his thoughts along that line.

“Maiden flights can be short, but not _that_ short,” Saibra sighed. “Her clutch should have at least been twenty or twenty-five.” Hopefully, Sybana had learned from her mistakes, Saibra hoped.

I’serin waited a moment before stating, “Fifteen is still more than zero. And hopefully Sybana will have gained valuable experience from it for next time.” They had not settled down for long before the hum reached a crescendo and the first egg hatched. “I am curious how our Holdless Candidates will fare with this event,” I’serin remarked. Perhaps the ones that did not Impress would also decide to leave? Rejection often fell hard on young shoulders.

“I just hope they behave,” Saibra muttered under her breath. There had been a few tense exchanges and altercations since the Holdless had arrived at the Weyr. While she knew some were planning to stay, a larger majority were planning to leave within the month, and she couldn’t say she was sad about it.

The young Weyrleader let out a humming sound that indicated his own agreement with her statement. “Here we go,” he remarked softly as the first egg cracked. As if to prove the Weyrleaders point, the green that emerged went straight for one of the Holdless. As the Hatching went on, I’serin tallied up the backgrounds of each newly Impressed and noted, “It...seems as though they are evenly split?”

Saibra could not say that she was overly thrilled with how many Holdless had Impressed. She didn’t doubt the dragonets - the dragons always knew what was best - but she didn’t envy T’lonas and the massive task ahead of him and M’thos as they tried to corral this wild group of Weyrlings. Logically, she knew that not all Holdless were thieves or murderers; some chose a life outside the Hold’s rule for their own purposes, but others… Others had been kicked out of livable habitats because they couldn’t be trusted. It was those she worried about.

“I do wish the dragons would quit picking so young,” she said as Lemhask found his lifemate. “We need all the available fighters in the air, not on the ground.”

I’serin nodded, his eyes on Yvase. Though he was glad for L’val, it would be Turns before the girl was of use to the Weyr’s primary mission. “We…could consider raising the Standing age if it becomes too much of a concern,” he proposed.

“That’s true,” Saibra mused. “But then, I’m afraid that would happen,” she said, pointing to the green dragon pacing in front of the stands while a woman with bright red hair came stumbling down.

An Impression from the Stands was still better than the other outcome: a hatchling’s death because a suitable partner could not be found. But I’serin nodded slowly as he considered the other various outcomes and implications of changing the Candidate age until he exhaled softly, coming to the same conclusion as Saibra.

Then, his expression darkened in thought. “Is that…another of the Holdless?” he asked, recalling the woman from their initial meetings with the rescued group nearly five months ago. How the dragons were choosing so many from the exiled caste of Pern was astounding! Hopefully it was not the beginning of a trend.

“I think it is,” Saibra said around a sigh. Perhaps it had been a _very_ big mistake to allow so many of the Holdess to stay and to Stand.

With only fifteen eggs on the Sands, the Hatching was over in what felt like the blink of an eye. “You know, if we leave now, we can get first dibs on the best wine.”

“And perhaps an early taste test of the tarts,” I’serin suggested. His hazel eyes glinted with boyish mirth. “You know the celebration will not truly begin until the guests of honor arrive. We could be waiting a bit. A glass of wine would be an acceptable start.” He rose to offer Saibra his arm.

Last updated on the November 28th 2025

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An Early Start